Forming-machine for leaf-springs.



E J. GUEUTAL. FORMING-MACHINE FOR L'EAF SPRINGS.

APPLICATlON FILED SEPT. 16, 1918.

Patented Feb. 11, 19191 4 SHEETS-SHEEY 1.

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E. J. GUEUTAL. FORMING MACHINE FOR LEAF SPRINGS.

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E J. GUEUTAL.

FORMING MACHINE FOR LEAF SPRINGS.

APPLlCATlON HLED SEPT. 16, I918.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

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E. J. GUEUTAL.

FORMING MACHINE FOR LEAF SPRINGS.

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ERNEST J. GUEUTAL, F RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR or oNE- nInD'rooHAnLEsA; CHEVRAUX AND ONE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM H. MITCHELL, BOTH or RICHMOND,

INDIANA.

FORMING-MACHINE FOR LEAF-seizures.

Patented ream, fore.

' Application filed September 16, 1918 Serial No. 254,176.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that L'ERNEST J. .GUEUTAL, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne, State ofIndiana, have invented a new and useful Forming-Machine forgLeafbprings,of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification,the same being such as will enable others familiar with the art to makeand use the same with exactitude.

The object of this invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a machinefor forming leaf-springs, for vehicles or the like, which will be strongand durable in construction, positive in action, simple in character,absolutely accurate in its results, eas ilv operated and controlled,andwhich can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

More particularly stated, my object is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated, which-will reduce manual labor to a mini mum in theformation of leaf-springs, in which the product delivered will beabsolutely uniform as to the shape to which the machine is, or may be,set; in which the ma chine will not became inoperative through wear orlong usage, and which will not in advertently loose the adjustment towhich it has been set.

In the production of leaf-springs for au tomobiles, or other purposes,it is now cus tomary to give to each leaf its final curva ture While thematerial is at a high tempera ture, and to accomplish this resultprincipally by manual labor and hand tools thereby materially effectingthe cost of produc tion. Also it is found that the leaves formedprincipally by hand labor are notabsolutely true or uniform, therebyrequiring additional hand labor to bring the leaf.- into properalinement, which latter is'usually attempted upon an anvil by means of ahand hammer which manifestly materially de preciates the springs lifeand strength and therefore its value. It has been determined that a leafwhich has been hammered after being formed is weaker at the points wherea hammer has been used thereon. -There fore to overcome these objectionsis the fundamental object of this invention.

Other particular objects and advantages of this. invention will suggestthemselves to the expert mechanician in the course of the followingdescription, and thatwhich is new and useful will be correlatedintheappended claims. i I l T In the drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete machine,showing the parts 1n open orraised position ready to receive thematerial'to be formed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the completemachine, showing same in closed or lowered position, that is theposition the parts assume'when the ma: terial is being formed thereby,'Fig; 3 is a left-hand end elevation of the complete ma chine. Fig. 4 isa right-hand end elevation of the machine. Fig. 5 is a sectional view,as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking upward from the floor. Fig.6 is a sectional view looking down, as taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the clutch mechanism. Fig. 8 isa centralvertical section of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 9'is a perspectiveview-of one of the weights. Fig. 10 is a detail section, as taken on theline 10-10 of Fig. 1. Fig, 11 is a perspective view of one of the jacksor form holders. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the nozzle member ofthesprinkler. And Fig, 13 is a detail cross section, showing the manner ofmounting the collars with the main eccentrics.

Similar indices denote like out the several views. a

In order that the construction, the opera.- tion, and the advantages ofthe invention may be more fully understood and apprecig ated, I will nowtake up a detail description of the preferred construction, which I willset forth as comprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: Letter A denotes the floor onwhich the machine rests, and to which it is secured.

The main frame.Extending upward from the floor, and spaced apart, arethe main standards 1 and 2,'having the respec tive feet 1' and 2 wherebythey may be secured to the floor by the respective bolts 3 and t.Rigidly secured to the opposing in: ner faces of the standardsl andQ arethe parts throughrespective guide-strips or'tracks 5 and 6,

the same extending vertically parallel with the standards. Extendingacross between the standards land 2, and contacting with the sides ofthe tracks 5 and 6, arethe table bars D and E. Located on of thestandards '1 and 2 are the respective the upper ends iio - driven shaft9. Said standards are retained in vertical position by the braces H andI which are secured thereto and extend to the floor A. Carried by therespective boxings 7 and 8 are the oilers B and G. 7

Raising and lowering means-Located on the shaft 9 and adjoining theinner faces of the respective boxings 7 and 8 arethe.

eccentrics 10 and 11 which have the respective hubs-12 and 13. The saideccentrics are adapted to be'rigidly secured on the shaft 9 by'means ofthe set-screws 14 and 15, respectively, as in Fig. 1. A channel isformed around in the periphery of 262L011 eccentric 1'0 and 11 inwhichoperate the respective collars, each of said collars consisting of twosegmental portions: The respective body members 16 and 17; and the capmembers, 18, and 19. The members 16 and 18 being connected by the screwsor bolts 20+21,"v and the members 17 and 19 being connected. by the,screws or bolts 22-23.

Extending down from the centers of the respective members 16 and 17are'the pitmen 24mldz The ocarr'iaga Numerals 26 and 27 de note the twoVertical end-bars of the carriage,fland they are located in slidingcontact with theinner faces of the guide-strips dand 6, respectively,and with their upper ends hingedwor pivoted to the lower ends of therespect've pitmen 24 and 25. j 7 Secured across the lower portions ofthe end-bars 26 and 27, by means of the respective bolts 28 and 29, arethe horizontal lower cross-bars 30 and 31; and likewise secured acrossthe upper portions of the end-bars 2.6 and 27, by means of the bolts 32and 33, are the upper cross-bars 34 and 35.. The ends of the cross-bars30, 31, .34 and 35 extend beyond the bars 26 and-27 to the respectivestandards 1 and 2, and they are located'in slidingl contact with thesides of the respective guide-strips 5 and 6. However, flat curvedspring 36 prevents the ends of. h bars ,30 and 34 from coming intoactual contact with the strips and'6, as shown in Fig. 10. Said springsare each located in a pocket formed in the contact faces of, the bars.'30 and 34 where each is secured by .a bolt. ,37 with their endscontacting withthe strips 5 and 6 for providing the proper tension toprevent horizontal movement :of the carriage.

Driving. gear.,-Adapted to revolve on the projectingleft-lhand :endportion of the shaft 9 is the ,gear-wheel .38, which meshes with theear-pinion 39, the-latter being secured on. Q e left-hand end portion ofthe drive: shaft 40, as is shown in Fig. 2'. The shaft 40- is mounted inboxings 41 and 42 which are, carried on the rear faces. of therespective, standards 1 and 2. Secured on the projecting rigght hand endportion of the shaft 40 is the pulley 43, which provides means forconnecting the power to drive the ma- (fihine as, and in the mannerhereinafter set orth.

The extreme left-hand end portion of the shaft 9 is threaded to receivethe nut 44 which contacts with the washer 45 to retain the ear 38revolubly on the shaft 9 and in a inement with the pinion 39 locatedtherebelow.

Theclutch.For1ned in the-inner periphery ofthe hub of the wheel 38, thatls'extendingqout ward from the shaft 9, is a slot or channel F- havingclosed ends as shown in F ig, 8, that is it does not extend entirelythrough said hub either to the right or the left; Formed in theperiphery of the shaft 9 is a channel G, which extends from theleft-hand end of the shaft 9 to the boxing 7 as is shown in Fig. 8. Thechannels F and G are parallel with each other and they arial of the samewidth with relation to each ot er. 1

Numeral'46 denotes a do 'whose main portion is adapted to be whol y inthe chan-' nel G, its left or tail portion being hinged on the pivot 47whereby the tooth p0 may swing out and I V 9. The inner face ofthe hubof the wheel 38 is in sliding contact with the tooth in with relation tothe shaft The face of the tooth wis rounded in the same direction as thecurvature of the shaft 9, and projecting inward to near'the inner end ofthe channel G, integral with the dog 46 and the tooth m, is the fin ywhose end is curved at right angles to the curvature ofthe toothm.Formed in the shaft'9,'at right-angles thereto,

the "fin y, is a socket 2, in which islocated the compression spring'48which is adapted I to normally cause'the dog to be turned out as it isshown in. Fig. 7.

and directly opposite It is nowjmanifestrthat if the dog be 7' pressedin, as in Fig.8, that the dogwill be withdrawn from the channel F,thereby per- Initting the wheel 38 to revolve idle on the shaft 9, withsaid shaft remainingstationary. Should, however, the spring 48 bepermitted to turn the dog outward, as in Fig.

7, then as soon as the slot F and the channel 7 G come into registeringposition with relation to each vother the dog 46 will move into thechannel F thereby causing the shaft 9 to be revolvedwith the wheel 38.

of the standard 1' is the bracket 49, whichis located directly below theshaft ,9, said bracket approaches near to the inner face of the wheel'38Carried by said bracket (is a pair of ears which carry the revolublepivot 51, which is, at right-angles to theshaft 9 and directly below thetooth, x. Bigidly connected with the pivot 51' is the rocking pawl 52.And secured to the pivot 51 is the arm 53 which projects centerward.

Connected at one end to the central portion of the arm 53 is the tensionspring 54, with the other end of said spring secured to some stationarypart, as the boxing 7.

Hinged to the lower portion of the standard 2 and extending acrossbeyond the standard 1, is the pedal 54', and it is retained in verticalsliding contact with the standard 1 by the guide 55. Pivoted to theleft-hand end of the pedal 54 is the connecting-rod 56 whose upper endis pivoted to the free end of the arm 53. It Will now be seen that ifthe pedal 54' V be pressed down that the pawl 52 will be turned out ofthe path of the tooth m, as it is seen in Fig. 7, and then when thepedal is released the spring 54 will cause the pawl 52 to assume itsvertical position as in Fig. 8, and of course the pedal will be raisedto its normal position.

: Brake-Secured on the projecting righthand end portion of the shaft 9is an eccentric 57 having a hub with a set-screw 57' by whichthe'eccentric is adjustably secured to the shaft. Extending out from thestandard 2, a short distance below the eccentric 57, is a spring tongueor bracket 58 which carries an adjusting bolt 59, the latter beingconnected to the brake-shoe 60 which is adapted to contact with theperiphery of the eccentric 57. v

The position of the eccentric on the shaft 9 is such that when thecarriage is at its highest point the eccentric will be at its maximumfrictional contact with the brakeshoe 60. i Pattern holder andadjustment.Permanently located on the table-bars D and E, and positionedin the/center thereof, is the screw-plate 61 through which is threadedthe main vertical adjusting screw 62, which has a crank 63 on its lowerend whereby it may be turned as desired for vertical ad justment, andwhen in the desired position it may be secured by the locking-nut 64. Asmall pintle 65 extends up from. the center of the upper end of thescrew 62, for the purpose hereinafter made apparent. 1

The auxiliary adjusting screws, 66 and 67, are similar to the screw 62except that they are adapted to be adjusted laterally along the tableD-E, they being threaded through their respective screw-plates 68 and 69and adapted to be secured when adjusted by the respective locking-nuts70 and 71. Secured on the lower ends of they screws 66 and 67 are therespective cranks 72 and 73.

The jacks 74 and 75 are located outward from said screws and each has astem, as shown in Fig.- 11, adapted to fit between the members D and Ewhere they are adapted to be secured each by a key as for instance therespective keys 7 6 and 77, which are driven into slots in said stems,as the slot J shown in Fig. 11. j

The upper portion of each jack comprises the spaced apart ears eachhaving a large aperture K therethrough and a plurality of smallapertures L therebelow. The apertures of the two ears of each jack arelocated directly opposite to each other as shown. Said smaller aperturesare adapted to re ceive one or more cross-pins, 78 and 79 respectively.In the large apertures Kare disposed the respective cross-bolts 80 and81 which form pivots for the respective camlevers 82 and 83. The pins 78and 79, and the cam-levers 82 and 83, are for the purpose of securingthe ends of the pattern or form-plate 84, and in practice the cam-leversmay be dispensed with and the pins 78 and 79 alone can be used, or thecam-levers may be employed without the said pins, thereby providing analternative securing means, or they may both be used.

The weights.In this construction I employ a plurality of weights whichin fact is the paramount instrumentality of this in vention and the keyto the entire construction and to which all of the other devices aresubsidiary.

As shown in Fig. 9 each weight comprises a relatively long body portion85, which is rectangular in cross-section, each having a head 85 on itsupper end, which head projects only forward and rearward and notlaterally, that is to say the sides or wider portions of the weights aresmooth and straight throughout their lengths whereby they may contactflat together from end to end.

In the lower end of each weight is an inverted V-shaped notch 85 whichextends from side-to-side of the weight, as in Fig. 9. Above said notcheach side of the weight is cut away to form two half pockets 85 and 85which open through the rear edge of the weight but not through theforward edge thereof. Between the two half-pockets is a thin web 85 andbelow the web the rear face of the weight assumes the same width as thatabove the web. Each of said half pockets converge at their lower endsinto a small mouth 85 which leads into the vortex of the notch 85 Whenthe weights are in contact with each other, as in Figs. 1 and 2 then thehalf-pocket of one combined with the half-pocket of the weight nextthereto form a complete pocket, for the purpose hereinafter stated.

The weights are of such depth as to fit slidably between the bars 34 and35, and between the bars 30 and 31, with the shoulders formed by theheads 85' resting on the bars 34 and'35, by which all of the weights areadapted to be suspended, as in Fig. 1, there being twenty-two weights inthis instance, but the number may be varied as desired to meet varyingconditions.

Approximate alm'ng fingers.-Secured to the rear faces of two of theweights 85 are the two fingers 86 and 87, as shown in Fig. 2, whichproject below the weights to insure the material to be operated on beinglocated in approximate position for the operation hereinafter set forth.

In this connection it is Well to call attention to the fact thatpositive and absolute alining of the material with the plate 84 isassured by reason of the notches 85 in the ends of the weights, wherebyas the weights descend the sides of the notches will first engage theedges of the material and as the weight is applied it is evident thatthe material will be forced into absolute alinement with the form plate84, thereby insuring that the material will be bent absolutely true andcorrect.

Automatic sprinkZcr.-Secured to some stationary object is the bracket88, which in this instance is secured to the screw 62 by the nut 64.Said bracket extends rearward and upward for supporting the nozzlemember 89 which has a multitude of jet-apertures 89 in the forward facethereof. 1 Said nozzle has a vertical curvature corresponding with thecurve of the plate 84, and the jet-apertures are located directly backof the saidpockets which are formed by the half-pockets 85 and 85", whenthe weights 85 are down to their limits as in Fig. 2.

Leading back and then upward from the center of the nozzle 89 is thepipe 90 which connects with the service valve 91, from which latterextends the pipe 92 which leads from a source of water supply underpressure.

Connected with the core of the valve 91 is the arm 93 which is adaptedto shut off the fiow of water when in the position in which it is shownby full lines in Fig. 4, or when moved down, as is indicated by dottedlines in the same view, the water will be turned on, to flow through thejet apertures.

Extending forward toward the machine from some stationary object, as thepipe 92, is a finger 94 to which is attached the helical spring 95; Thelower end of said spring is attached, under tension, to the arm 93whereby the said arm Wlll move to its upward position whenever it isreleased. A stop 96 prevents the arm 93 from moving upward beyond theposition required'to shut off the water. r

Numeral 97 denotes a spring formed of flat material, having its upperend secured to the bar 3 5, from which itpro'jects clownward inalinement with the arm 93 .and directly forward thereof, there beingashoulder 97' formed in the lower portion of the spring 97 which, whenthe bar 35 and the arm 93 are upward to their limits engages the pointof the'arm 93, as shown inFig. 3;

It is now evident that as the carriage moves downward that the'lever orarm 93 will be forced downward by the spring 97 until a certain point isreached when the point of the arm, 93 will slide off from the shoulder97 and will be immediately, returned to normal position by the spring95, to be again engaged by said shoulder when the carriage moves upwardto its limit.

As it requires an interval of time for the water to reach the jets,after being turned on, it is found that this arrangement will cause thewater to be delivered to the hot material synchronously with thecompletion of the bending of the material to the shape of the formplate. 7 7

Material to be operated 0n.-Numeral 100 denotes a blank or unbent leafof a spring, the same is usually provided with a hole or aperture formedthrough its center through which may be disposed the pintle 65, saidhole being afterward employed as a bolt aperture when the leaves areassembled into a complete spring. However said hole may be dispensedwith and other means be employed as desired for connecting the leaves,in which event other means may beemployed for positioning the leaf orblank upon the form-plate. v

Moclus operaml.-The purpose of the machine, and its construction, havingnow been made clear the operation thereof is substan tially as follows:First assuming-that power is applied to the pulley 43 whereby the gearwheel 38 will be revolved continuously at a comparatively slow rate ofspeed but with considerible power in reserve. The carriage will now beupward to its limit, thereby suspending all of the weights 85' as inFig. 1. The form plate 84 having been contoured and secured in theproper curve-which is desired for the product, the mater'al or blank100, having been previously heated to the desired degree of temperature,on the form 84, causing thepintle to pass through the center nowmanifest that the fingers 86 and 87 will insure approximate but notabsolute alinement of the material with relation to the form 84. V T

The operator then presses the pedal 54, which will tip the pawl 52inward, thereby releasing the tooth a, and permitting'the dog toengagein the channel F of the wheel-38, thereby causing the shaft 9 tobe rotated one revolution, for asthe operatorimmediately releases thepedal it is evident that the pawl will be returned to vertical position,therefore as the shaft 9 is completing its revoluholeof the-leaf. It isit is placed tion the tooth a: will'engage the pawl 52 carriage will belowered to; the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, and thenfollowing closely thereafter it will be raised back to its firstposition. The downward movement of the carriage will release the weightsv85, permitting their lower ends to impinge the material 100, and theircombined. weight will bend the material 100 to the contour of the plate84:, the weights being applied first in the center of the material andthen gradually applied right and left to the ends thereof, which hasbeen determined by experts to be the correct manner of bending in orderto give the best results, but heretofore this has not been successfullyaccomplished.

It should be observed that as the weights reach their highest point ofsuspension that the shaft 9 will be released from the power, and at thisinstant the brake will be in position to prevent the shaft 9 fromturning beyond dead-center of the eccentrics, thereby holding thecarriage and retaining the weights in suspension as in Fig. 1.

As the carriage moves downward it is evident that the shoulder of thespring-arm 97 which is carried by the cross-arm or bar 35 will pressdown the valve arm 93, releasing the water pressure, whereby immediatelyafter the weights have shaped the material to its final curvature-therewill be sprays of water injected into the pocket of the weights and thiswater will be directed down upon the hot material thereby slightlycooling it and causing it to retain its shape, but immediatelythereafter the arm 93 of the valve will be drawn back by the spring 95thereby shutting off the water before the weights are lifted from thematerial.

Then as the weights are lifted from the material the latter may beremoved in any desired manner, either by tongs or by automatic meansconnected with the machine, and immediately after being removed from themachine the formed material or leaf is placed in a bath of oil in orderto complete the tempering thereof.

I desire to emphasize the fact that the bending of the material isaccomplished simply by the gravity of the weights which, manifestly, isalways uniform and requires no delicate adjustments of springs which areliable to gradually loose their desired tension or adjustment; and astill more important result is that the bending is accomplished from thecenter of the material outward to its ends, thereby insuring absoluteevenness and uniformity of the resultant product.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A forming machine for leaf springs, comprising in combination, aframe, a main shaft adapted to be revolved continuously by power, anauxiliaryshaft geared to the main shaft and adapted to give a singlerevolution only at the will of the operator, eccentrics carried by theauxiliary shaft, a carriage mounted to operate vertically in the frame,arms connecting the eccentrics with said carriage, a plurality of flatelongated weights each having a head on its upper end to be engaged bythe carriage, a former-plate located below said weights, jacks in whichthe ends of the former-plate are adjustably secured, screws forsupporting the formplate intermediate the jacks andadapted to give thedesired curvature to the form-plate, means for centering the material onthe form-plate, the lower ends of said weights being constructed in suchmanner as to aline the material when it is being formed, and means forautomatically injecting water between the lower. ends of the Weightswhen they are in contact with the material being formed.

2. A machine for forming leaf springs, including an adjustableform-plate, means for supporting the form plate in the desiredcurvature, means for centering the material to be formed on saidform-plate, a plurality of weights, means for lifting the weights bypower and permitting them to descend by gravity upon the materiallocated on the form-plate whereby the material will be caused to assumethe shape of the formplate, automatic means for injecting water betweenthe weights when they are in contact with the material being formed andby which the water will be cut off as the weights are lifted from thematerial, and a foot pedal for causing the weights to decend, allsubstantialy as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST J. GUEUTAL.

Witnesses:

RoBr. W. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 20.0. 7 y V p

